With many hunting seasons in Alaska opening this month, the Alaska
Division of Forestry reminds hunters heading into the woods to be careful with any
activities that could ignite a wildfire.
While abundant rainfall, shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures have reduced
fire danger across most of the state in the last six weeks, it will only take a few hot days
to dry the surface fuels that could fuel a wildfire.
The two biggest culprits of “hunter fires” are campfires, and the use of all-terrain
vehicles (ATVs). While campfires are important elements for a comfortable hunting
camp and support warming, cooking and conversation, they also pose a wildfire threat if
not used properly. Hunters using ATVS should check to make sure spark arrestors are working properly
before they head into the field. While using ATVs, hunters should watch engines and
mufflers for grass buildup that could fall off and ignite a fire in dry vegetation.